Aeschylus, Agamemnon

At about the age of 67, in 458 B.C. Aeschylus produced the tetralogy:
Agamemnon, Coephoroi, Eumenides (and the satyr-play Proteus) on the subject
of the descendants of Tantalus and Pelops: Agamemnon, Clytaemestra,
Aegistheus, Orestes and Electra. The tetralogy won the first prize, as a
surviving inscription (`Didaskaliai') indicates.

[line references:
Grene & Lattimore]

PROLOGOS

The Watchman
It is the 10th year of the Trojan War, high summer. For a year the watchman has been awaiting the signal to indicate that Troy has fallen. It comes. Joy that the king will be returning soon, but apprehension because of a tale the man could tell of doings at Argos. A loyal dog (cf. 1237-1238)

1-39

PARODOS

Chorus of Argive men
Agamemnon & Menelaus like `vultures'; revenge, a stabbing. Fury for the rape of Helen of Sparta. They too know something about Clytaemestra that will not
please the king
(148-156).
The story of Iphigenia's sacrifice by her father
Agamemnon--the cause of
Clytaemestra's anger (185-247)

40-257

EPISODE I

Clytaemestra, Chorus
No one takes me in with visions, senseless dreams (275). Imagined tale of the
Fall of Troy (325-348). "If only they are revering the city's gods, the
shrines of the gods who love the conquered land (341-342). `The avenging dead
may never rest' (350). Chorus: `Spoken like a man, my lady! '

STASIMON II

Chorus
The crime of Paris & Helen: violence, justice
`The house swam with blood...' (728)
`Only the reckless act can breed impiety, multiplying crime on crime, while the
house kept straight and just is blessed with radiant children...'
(751-754)
`...but the good shepherd knows his flock...' (779)
`Search, my king, and learn at last who stayed at home and kept their faith and
who betrayed the city (792-4)

681-810

EPISODE III

Agamemnon and Clytaemestra (Cassandra)
`the Just gods' (797) `we were right' (809)
For Argos, a national inquiry
(831-836)
Clytaemestra: a woman at home during the war (848-864;
886-897)
`and so, our child is gone...' (865!) Orestes (867-877)

Hybris/hamartia: the tapestry (901-957). Justice lead him
in!

811-974

STASIMON III

EPISODE IV

Clytaemestra, Cassandra, Chorus
Cassandra: seer, slave (Slave of the god Apollo, slave of Ag & Cly) `the
House that hates god' (1088). She sees her own death (future) and what is
happening to Agamemnon in his bath in the house (present): (1110 ff.)
The Nightingale (1144-1150)
Cassandra and Apollo: love &' deceit (1207-
1222)
The Fury is Clytaemestra: `The woman kills the man'
(1241)
`Raging mother of death, storming deathless war against the ones she loves!
And how she howled in triumph' (1245-1246)
She is the lioness (1271-1274; cf. 713-732 and
shepherd imagery)

[story of Atreus & Thyestes, 1583-1602]
Aegistheus himself is the `Weaver of Justice'
(cf. Three Fates); he murdered the king.
As Tyrants, he and Clytaemestra will teach Argos how to behave; the chorus
`barks' absurdly, insubordinate dogs.
`The women, the corruption of Greece'
Clytaemestra: What we did was destiny.
The return of ORESTES, the Exile, hinted at.